Life In 19x19

As expected, the European Go Congress organisers, https://egc2022.ro/newsletter3/ , and the EGF president advertise for the congress and mention that many players are still sceptical. However, I think that the information is very insufficient.

As to Russians possibly being prohibited from playing in the congress tournaments, I still await a publication of the decision.

As to Covid, they write: "In Romania everything seems to be back to normal, no more restrictions, no one wearing mask anymore." This information is absolutely insufficient! I want to know and see regular updates on
- Corona numbers in Romania and Vatra Dornei in particular,
- Corona rules in transport to Romania, in Romania, in Vatra Dornei and at the venue,
- Corona concept at the congress venue,
- consequences of having Corona in Romania and in particular for congress participants, more specifically when sharing rooms,
- medical treatment in Romania and Vatra Dornei in particular in cases of severe Corona illness,
- current Corona types in Romania.

No one wearing mask anymore is no indication whatsoever what the Corona numbers are. E.g., mask requirements have been taken back to some extent in Germany but case numbers are very high.

Sorry, but this is not a game of naive belief. I want facts and responsible management!

I think answers to some of these Covid questions can be found at https://reopen.europa.eu/en

For urgent medical care and hospitals you would presumably want to make sure you have your "European Health Insurance Card" (EHIC) and a travel insurance. You might want to read the EHIC information, there is a bit on Romania, but it is not a travel insurance. It is just something generic but in principle EU/EEA and Swiss residents have the same access to the local healthcare system as the local residents, same thing applies to UK and EU, the link has actual details of what this means in Romania, under the "how to use the card" section.

Having contacted the congress organisers, I have got their information on 2022-06-13.

They say that now it is EGF policy that

- Russian / Belarussian players are not allowed to play in official EGF tournaments including all Congress events,
- Russian / Belarussian players living in other European countries or being refugees may be allowed to play if signing a statement opposing the war.

I like this current EGF policy very much! I just wish it would be easily available at the EGF webpage and told to the EGF members.

The congress organisers say this about Covid:

Since currently the Romanian government is said to have no restriction whatsoever as to Covid, the congress organisers consider the situation normal so currently there are no Covid policies / restrictions for the congress.

In my opinion, nevertheless each potential participant needs to make his own decision whether to bear the Covid risk of the travel and participation.

Here is some advice I got from a doctor for those daring to attend a congress: voluntarily wearing an FFP2 mask decreases one's own (and everybody's) probability of infection as does respecting others by maintaining distance. Probably I do not dare to attend but I wish every participant low risk and good health.

Concerning a possible 4th vaccination of persons without mandatory criteria and exit strategies back towards normal life, the doctor had a clear Jein (that is, unclear choice between Yes or No) and said that everybody needs to make his own personal decisions because scientists do not have definitive, general answers yet.

Knotwilg wrote:I'm very curious why these players have never thought about boycotting a UK player when bombardments on Iraq killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians, in a war waged under totally false conditions (Iraq was not involved in 9/11, nor did they have WoMD).

If UK attacks Ireland in order to take their territories and to set up a dictatorship there, I believe western sanctions against UK will be harder than contemporary sanctions against Russia.

off-topic:

Knotwilg wrote:But I also sympathize with Russian citizens, sportsmen or not, who are just trying to live their life under such dictatorship and can't really help having been born in the wrong country. A bit of love, peace and understanding would do good to EGF and its boycotting players.

This is a war. In the world, there is so much of more serious "injustice" inflicted on people for having been born in the wrong country.

Nobody kills Russian go players, nobody kills their relatives, nobody destroys their homes. They only cannot participate in some tournaments in Europe. They can play online and participate in other tournaments. Please don't make a drama from it.

There are good reasons why EGF raised the boycott. It might save some lifes by helping Russian people to understand something serious happens and by causing an earlier withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
Any saved life is worth the discomfort imposed on Russian players.
I believe any reasonable Russian go player understands it.

k0n0 wrote: It might save some lifes by helping Russian people to understand something serious happens and by causing an earlier withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

I would like to believe so, but I am more inclined to think that as long as Russia is ruled by a crazy dictator who puts in jail or kills any political opponent, the course of matters won't change.

jlt wrote:...

Putin keeps track of public opinion very watchfully. Otherwise he would start a total mobilization 4 months ago.